"There were days where, oh man, he had some flashbacks" - When aging Hakeem Olajuwon made Rockets teammates look clownish in practice

Yahoo

23-05-2025

Very few players have had the chance to play alongside an NBA legend like Hakeem Olajuwon. For Walt Williams, however, that rare opportunity actually came true during the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons.
In a 2021 exclusive interview with Basketball Network, Williams shared what it meant to be teammates with the then-veteran Olajuwon.
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The former 6'8" swingman made clear that this experience was more than just soaking in the aura of a basketball icon. Even though "The Dream" was nearing the end of his legendary career, he still, at times, displayed moments of the incredible skill and dominance that had marked his prime.
Olajuwon's battle with Father Time
When Williams joined the Houston Rockets around the turn of the millennium, he found himself sharing the court with a mid-30s Olajuwon.
At that advanced age — "The Dream" was 36 when their first campaign together began — the effects of a long career were becoming evident. This is common among veteran players but even more so for centers, whose bodies take a lot of toll from the countless battles under the basket.
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As Walt recalled, Hakeem — undeniably one of basketball's all-time great big men — was no stranger to that.
Dealing with age-related health problems, the former 12-time All-Star often needed medication just to breathe, his former teammate said. For example, Williams recalled seeing Olajuwon use an inhaler device to take medication and sometimes use steroids to help open his lungs.
During their two seasons together, Hakeem's impact clearly lessened. He still started regularly, playing over 25 minutes per game, but his stats showed his physical decline. The Finals MVP-level performances were gone; the seven-footer averaged modest numbers by his standards: just over 11 points, nearly seven rebounds, and only a few blocks and assists.
"He just wasn't at the same level that he had been at," said "The Wizard."
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Still, even though the magic faded in official games, glimpses of the old Hakeem appeared occasionally. In scrimmages and behind closed doors, as Williams — who made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1993 — remembered.
Related: "He's not a Hall of Famer, but he was on that next level" - Bob Ryan on a role player who was never recognized as the Celtics' X-factor in the 80s
Turning back the clock
Widely seen as one of the most skilled players in footwork, "The Dream" raised the bar for agility and deception in basketball.
His moves weren't just accurate — they were smart. He mixed smooth fakes with quick changes in direction that left defenders confused, almost as if they were facing a completely different style of play. Even in his later years with the Rockets, there were times when much younger, fitter teammates struggled to keep up with that.
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"There were days where, oh man, he had some flashbacks, and it was just amazing to see," recounted Williams.
The now 55-year-old remembered how Hakeem could shrink the entire court to a small space near the basket, making defenders look "clownish" during practice. How did the future Hall of Famer do it? With a series of moves that flowed smoothly — from a hook shot to an up-and-under, then a pump fake and a sudden shift — that always seemed rehearsed but were still impossible to guard.
"I mean, you could just tell exactly what the next move was gonna be," remembered "The Waiter," adding that defenders still couldn't do anything about it, finding themselves stuck "in the matrix."
Those rare moments of brilliance showed exactly why the 1994 MVP, who led the team from "H-Town" to back-to-back championships, is still remembered as a true legend. As they say, real greatness never fades.
Related: "I'm glad I did, too" - Hakeem Olajuwon on why he stopped Houston from trading him to the New York Knicks